Driving down Quinpool Road in Halifax, it’s hard to miss Quinpool Towers. Located adjacent to the Atlantic Superstore and Canadian Tire, this 233-unit apartment building stands tall above the other surrounding properties. And if you look up—waaaay up—you’ll see a row of solar panels lining one roof.
Quinpool Towers is one of four Killam Properties locations that’s benefiting from solar heating, along with Sheradon Place and 21 Plateau Crescent, also in Halifax, and DesBarres House in Charlottetown.
These solar panels are drastically reducing energy expended at these four properties, using the sun’s power to preheat hot water for domestic use. In some cases, during the summer months, the heat generated by the solar panels is enough to provide all the hot water required for the buildings. In total it’s a savings of 10-20 per cent of heating costs annually.
At Quinpool Towers, there are underground geothermal wells adjacent to the property which will eventually be able to store even more hot water than is currently housed in tanks inside the building. Water will be heated to the maximum temperature and stored underground in the geothermal wells, where the ground largely maintains the temperature, and it can be retrieved as required. Throughout the process, water only loses 15 to 20 degrees so preheating is reduced dramatically and energy is preserved.
Killam is constantly looking for new ways to operate in a more eco-friendly manner and the solar water heating system is something that will be monitored going forward in hopes that it will be implemented into other buildings as well.
What allows you to save money on car maintenance costs, Metro Transit fares, auto insurance, gas, and Halifax/Dartmouth bridge tolls, all while reducing emissions?
CarShareHFX!
Killam Properties and CarShareHFX have come together to give Killam residents a fun, convenient way to get around town without owning a car. It will make Halifax a more sustainable, culture-rich city and it will save you money.
With a CarShareHFX Killam membership, Killam residents receive an exclusive 50% off a yearly membership, making trips to the beach, family gatherings and other occasional meetings more convenient. Your membership will not only give you access to the CarShareHFX car located on-site at Quinpool Towers, you can use all of the CarShareHFX fleet located around downtown Halifax and Dartmouth.
CarSharHFX is an affordable, environmental and trendy option that reduces parking needs in Halifax, and gives members more transportation options.
To view all of the CarShareHFX locations click here!!
For more information, call CarShareHFX at 902 406 7439 or email info@carsharehfx.ca, or visit them online at www.carsharehfx.ca
Nick Harris is originally from the Fredericton area and has worked at Killam Properties since June 2006.
As a founding member of Killam's "green team", his goal is to help discover and implement simple solutions that lessen the company's ecological footprint.
